Nokia

Nokia was once the world's largest handset maker by a wide margin. Now, Samsung has taken over, and in the smartphone market, Nokia's Lumia devices have been ignored. Nokia says that will change with Windows Phone 8. It's early in the game, but so far, it hasn't. At this point, it's hard to see how Nokia can stay in business outside emerging markets where its Asha handsets are still selling quite well.

The world is changing. The products and services that once defined an entire generation of technology users have given way to new alternatives that appeal to much different needs. The companies able to adapt, like Apple and Samsung, are wildly successful today. Companies that were unable to adapt have either shuttered their doors, were bought out by competitors, or were forced to modify their operations time and again in search of that sweet spot that combines customer appeal with the ability to generate sufficient profits to keep shareholders happy. This slide show will focus on companies that haven't been able to find the sweet spot and still have trouble appealing to today's customers. From consumers to enterprise users, today's customer base is looking for something much different than it was just a few years ago. In far too many cases, companies don't seem to understand the average customer's needs or what it might take to turn things around. So here is eWEEK's look at why so many previously successful technology firms are having such trouble maintaining their place in the market.